Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UMG

What Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UMG does

The Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) is an academic research department led since 2008 by Prof. Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, focused on systems pharmacology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for heart failure. Its core technical platform is Engineered Human Myocardium (EHM) — three-dimensional, electrically and mechanically synchronized cardiac tissue patches generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) embedded in collagen hydrogel — supported by therapeutic genome editing (CRISPR and gene re-expression), automated bioartificial organ production (AutoOrgan_3R), and organ surrogate disease modeling for cardiac, skeletal muscle and neuronal indications. The department is the only institution worldwide conducting a clinical trial (BioVAT-HF-DZHK20, NCT04396899) permanently implanting iPSC-derived cardiac tissue in heart failure patients, having treated 12+ patients across UMG Göttingen and UKSH Lübeck as of early 2024 with patches of up to 800 million cells.

The business model is that of a publicly funded academic department: revenue is generated almost entirely through competitive third-party grants (DFG, BMBF, DZHK, Leducq, EU) funding specific research programs in tissue engineering, arrhythmia mechanisms, drug discovery and genome editing, supplemented by professional drug therapy consulting services for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies. Commercial translation is handled via spin-off companies (Repairon GmbH for heart patch commercialization and BioVAT-HF clinical trial support, Myriamed for skeletal muscle engineering, Myriameat for cultivated meat) under UMG's technology transfer framework. Education activities (the Master of Science Cardiovascular Science program and undergraduate pharmacology teaching) round out the operating model. Customers in a research-services sense include pharmaceutical and biotech firms using the EHM/iPSC platform for phenotypic drug screens and disease modeling, while clinical 'customers' are advanced heart failure patients enrolled in the BioVAT-HF trial at two German sites.

Strategic positioning is anchored by 25+ years of preclinical development, a unique first-in-class regulatory approval, prestigious international awards (ISHR 2026, Preis der Deutschen Hochschulmedizin 2024, AHA Fellow, DGK Honorary Lecture), and a high-profile publication record (Nature 2025, NEJM 2026, Circulation 2024). The department operates within the state of Lower Saxony's public-law university foundation structure with no external private investors, and leverages a dense network of campus partnerships (German Primate Center, MPI-DS, MPI-NAT, Georg-August-Universität, Stem Cell Unit UMG) and transatlantic collaborations (NIH PCTC, Leducq, Eurolife) to sustain its translational pipeline.

Name

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UMG

Legal name

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Public Law Foundation, Medical Center Göttingen (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen)

Website

https://pharmacology.umg.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at University Medical Center Göttingen is an academic research department developing iPSC-derived engineered heart muscle (EHM) patches for severe heart failure. It runs BioVAT-HF, the world's only clinical trial implanting tissue-engineered cardiac patches in patients, and translates its science via Repairon and other spin-offs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cardiovascular Research & Regenerative Medicine

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Cardiovascular & Vascular Regeneration (vascular grafts, angiogenesis) (HLAAAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cardiac Assist & Heart Failure Therapies (Implantables, Neuromodulation) (HLAHAFAL), Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology (HLAKABAD)

Keywords

• Cardiovascular tissue engineering
• Stem cell research
• Heart failure therapy
• Regenerative medicine
• Pharmacology consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Göttingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grant Funding: Primary revenue stream from competitive third-party funding (DFG, BMBF, DZHK, Leducq, EU). Grants fund specific research programs in tissue engineering, heart failure, arrhythmia mechanisms, and drug discovery.
2. Professional Consulting on Drug Therapy: Professional consultant services pertaining to drug therapy offered to healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies.
3. Technology Transfer / Licensing (via UMG): Spin-off companies (Repairon GmbH, Myriamed, Myriameat) commercialize department technologies. Repairon supports the BioVAT-HF clinical trial and the heart patch therapy development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at UMG conducts translational cardiovascular research centered on the Engineered Human Myocardium (EHM) platform — iPSC-derived, three-dimensional heart-muscle patches used to repair failing hearts. Its core commercial/clinical offering is the BioVAT-HF-DZHK20 clinical trial (NCT04396899), the world's only trial implanting tissue-engineered heart muscle for permanent cardiac remuscularization in patients with terminal heart failure. The department also provides professional consulting on drug therapy for healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies, and offers graduate-level education (MSc Cardiovascular Science, pharmacology teaching).

Product overview

The Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at UMG operates as a translational research department focused on heart failure and cardiovascular disease. Its core product is the Engineered Heart Muscle (EHM) platform — iPSC-derived, tissue-engineered cardiac patches designed for heart repair in patients with severe heart failure. The EHM platform is being advanced through the BioVAT-HF clinical trial program (Biological Ventricular Assist Tissue), the only clinical trial worldwide investigating permanent implantation of iPSC-derived cardiac tissue. The department's work spans tissue engineering, therapeutic genome editing, stem cell biology, and disease modeling. Adjacent to its research portfolio, the department offers drug therapy consulting services and an educational program comprising a Master of Science in Cardiovascular Science (a four-semester, English-language program) plus undergraduate medical education in pharmacology and toxicology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engineered Heart Muscle (EHM) Three-dimensional, electrically synchronized cardiac tissue patches derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), designed to remuscularize failing hearts via minimally invasive surgical implantation. Embedded in collagen to mimic juvenile heart tissue, the patches integrate mechanically and electrically with host myocardium to provide durable repair without arrhythmias or tumors.
• BioVAT-HF-DZHK20 Clinical Trial (Biological Ventricular Assist Tissue) Multicenter first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of iPSC-derived engineered human myocardium (EHM) patches in patients with severe heart failure. Dose-finding phase completed with 10 patients; efficacy phase ongoing with 800-million-cell patches. The world's only clinical trial implanting tissue-engineered heart muscle for permanent cardiac remuscularization.
• Drug Therapy Consulting Services Professional consultant services pertaining to drug therapy offered by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology to healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies.
• Master of Science in Cardiovascular Science An international, four-semester, English-language Master's program focused on scientific and clinical cardiovascular research with strong emphasis on individual practical training; designed for graduates in medicine and natural sciences pursuing cardiovascular research, industry, or academic careers.
• Human Medicine Pharmacology Teaching (Module 2.1) Undergraduate and postgraduate education in pharmacology and toxicology for medical students at UMG, including Module 2.1 (Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Toxicology) for second clinical semester students.
• Molecular Medicine Bachelor/Master Program Departmental involvement in the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in Molecular Medicine, providing teaching and research supervision for students in medical and life sciences at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.

Quantifiable outcome

• EHM allografts in rhesus macaques thickened ventricular walls by up to 15% and improved pump function over 6 months without arrhythmias or tumor formation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Campus LübeckcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Clinical partner in the BioVAT-HF-DZHK20 multicenter clinical trial. UKSH Lübeck serves as the second trial site for implanting engineered heart muscle (EHM) patches in heart failure patients. Six patients were treated at UKSH in the dose-finding and efficacy phases of the trial. The collaboration involves cardiac surgery (Prof. Ensminger) and translational research teams.
• German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDZHK is the primary funder and strategic partner for the BioVAT-HF-DZHK20 clinical trial and multiple research programs including 'Alliance for Identification and Validation of Targets in Heart Failure' (2021-2025) and 'Alliance for Regeneration in Heart Failure' MD2 (2021-2025). DZHK provides the funding backbone and network infrastructure for the department's translational cardiovascular research.
• Repairon GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company from the department commercializing the heart patch therapy and supporting the BioVAT-HF clinical trial. Repairon was co-founded by department members and handles technology transfer, manufacturing scale-up, and commercial development of the EHM platform. The company is a visible partner in the heart patch team's award recognitions and clinical trial operations.
• CIRM / BMBF Early Translation IIImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint CIRM (California Institute for Regenerative Medicine) and BMBF funding for 'Heart Repair with Human Tissue Engineered Myocardium' (FKZ: 13GW0007, 2013). Early translation grant supporting the development of the EHM platform toward clinical application, demonstrating international recognition of the technology's potential.
• Stem Cell Unit UMGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal campus partner at UMG providing stem cell banking, culture, and differentiation services. The Stem Cell Unit supports the department's iPSC work and the Experimental Stem Cell Bank (DZHK GOE I.1 SCI) and Therapeutic Stem Cell Bank (DZHK GOE I.2 SCI) programs.
• SFB 1002 Collaborative Research CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFG-funded SFB 1002 'Modulatory Units in Heart Failure' is a multi-institutional collaborative research center focused on fibroblast-cardiomyocyte cross-talk in heart disease. The department leads Project C04 (Control of the Myocardial Stroma by Fibroblasts) and Service project S, coordinating interdisciplinary research across UMG and partner institutions.
• German Primate Center (DPZ)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational primate research center in Göttingen providing non-human primate (rhesus macaque) facilities for preclinical studies. The department conducted pivotal EHM allograft studies in rhesus primates that demonstrated safety and efficacy, enabling regulatory approval for human trials.
• NIH Progenitor Cell and Translational Medicine in Cardiovascular Bioengineering (PCTC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS National Institutes of Health program supporting the annual CVBE (Cardiovascular Bioengineering Symposium) series. Prof. Zimmermann presented at the 8th NIH PCTC CVBE symposium in Houston (May 2024). The NIH PCTC partnership enables transatlantic exchange and validation of the department's tissue engineering approaches.
• Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus partner in Göttingen. The department collaborates with MPI-DS on cardiac dynamics, optogenetics (Prof. Luther's group on cardiac arrhythmia termination using optogenetic feedback pacing), and nonlinear dynamics research. Multiple co-authored publications in Chaos and Frontiers in Network Physiology.
• Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences (MPI-NAT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampus partner collaborating on molecular and cellular research aspects of cardiac biology and tissue engineering. The partnership provides access to advanced microscopy and molecular biology infrastructure.
• Georg-August-Universität GöttingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe parent university provides institutional support, the Master of Science Cardiovascular Science program, and infrastructure. Collaborative programs include RTG 2824 'Heart & Brain diseases' and the MBExC (Multiscale Bioimaging) excellence cluster. The university supports technology transfer and spin-off formation.
• Eurolife NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of European universities in life sciences celebrating 25 years. Prof. Zimmermann served as main/keynote speaker at the Eurolife summit on Advanced Therapies for Cardiovascular Disease (2024), positioning UMG pharmacology as a European leader in the field.
• RTG 2824 'Heart & Brain diseases: integrative research across organs'majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFG-funded Research Training Group (Graduiertenkolleg) focused on integrative research across heart and brain diseases. The department participates in RP5 studying proteotoxic dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease and dilated cardiomyopathy models, linking cardiac and neurological research programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Notch Therapeutics: Clinical-stage iPSC-derived cell therapy company with programs in oncology and immunology; represents the broader iPSC therapeutic platform category that intersects with cardiac regeneration research.
• Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford: Leading academic research centre conducting preclinical cardiac regeneration and stem cell research in the US. Comparable academic translational research environment with strong grant funding and industry partnerships.

Direct peers

• Capricor Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing cell therapy (deramiocel/CAP-1002) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy and other cardiac indications. Comparable cell-based approach to cardiac muscle support.
• Heartseed Inc. Tokyo-based clinical-stage biotech developing iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte (HS-001) therapy for heart failure. Closest modality peer—also uses iPSC-derived cardiac cell transplantation in HF patients.
• BioCardia, Inc. Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing catheter-based delivery systems (Helix biotherapeutic delivery) for cardiac cell therapy, including CardiAMP and CardiALLO programs in heart failure.
• Repairon GmbH: Spin-off of UMG Göttingen commercialising the EHM heart patch and supporting the BioVAT-HF clinical trial. Most direct commercial peer since it carries the same core technology into regulated drug development.
• Mesoblast Limited: Commercial-stage regenerative medicine company with cell therapy products (e.g., remestemcel-L, Rexlemestrocel-L) evaluated in chronic heart failure; comparable cellular mechanism for cardiac repair.
• Tenaya Therapeutics: US clinical-stage biotech pursuing cardiac regeneration through gene therapy (e.g., TN-201 for genetic cardiomyopathies) and cellular reprogramming. Direct competitor in next-generation cardiac repair modalities.
• BlueRock Therapeutics: Bayer-owned clinical-stage cell therapy company developing iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for heart failure. Closest large-cap peer in iPSC cardiac regeneration with significantly greater commercial resources.

Broad incumbents

• Sana Biotechnology: Clinical-stage cell therapy company developing hypoimmune iPSC-derived cells across multiple therapeutic areas. A broader, better-funded incumbent in regenerative medicine that could move into cardiac indications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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